Spiritual Motherhood: St Angela’s Gift to Education – Jan 27 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 27, 2025, on how St. Angela Merici founded the Ursulines, revolutionizing female religious life and education by creating a new form of spiritual motherhood that combined teaching with religious devotion outside traditional cloistered life.
Saint Angela Merici was born in the late 1400s in Italy to a modest family. After losing her parents and sister at a young age, she dedicated her life to God instead of marriage. She had several spiritual experiences that led her to teach young girls about faith and virtue, especially those who were poor. In 1535, she started the Ursulines, the first religious group specifically focused on teaching girls. Her biggest achievement was creating a new way for religious women to serve God while living in the world rather than in closed monasteries. She believed teachers should love their students like mothers love their children, an idea that reflected Mary's love for all Christians.
Extended summary with references:
Father explains how St. Angela Merici, born in 1474, embodied the spirit of Matthew 19:21 when she chose a life of poverty and service over worldly comfort. Her early spiritual formation was shaped by family Bible readings, reflecting Deuteronomy 6:7's command to teach children God's word. After experiencing visions similar to those in Acts 9:10-16, she received her mission to educate young girls. Her work aligned with CCC 2688, which emphasizes the importance of catechesis in Christian formation.
When founding the Ursulines in 1535, she followed the inspiration of Proverbs 22:6, training children in the way they should go. Her innovative approach to religious life, allowing sisters to serve outside the cloister, embodied CCC 913's teaching on the secular orders' role in sanctifying the world. Her spiritual motherhood concept reflects John 19:26-27, where Jesus gives Mary as mother to all believers, and connects to CCC 501 regarding Mary's spiritual motherhood of all Christians.
Her teaching that spiritual love surpasses natural bonds echoes 1 Corinthians 13:13 and CCC 2346 on the gift of chastity. Father concludes by linking St. Angela's understanding of maternal love to Mary's universal motherhood, as described in CCC 963, showing how she carries all humanity in her Immaculate Heart.
For Further Reading:

CCC 913 - Role of Lay Religious Orders - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/913.htm
CCC 963 - Mary's Universal Motherhood - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/963.htm
CCC 2688 - Importance of Catechesis - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2688.htm
Wikipedia - St. Angela Merici Biography - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merici

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Angela Merici - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=21
Readings: Monday 3rd Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012725.cfm
1st: heb 9:15, 24-28
Resp: psa 98:1-6
Gsp: mar 3:22-30

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1023&r=1371

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